HOW CAN ANYTHING SO BAD BE SO GOOD!

I can't believe this day 55 years ago I was one day ahead of William and Kate.......As this was the day way back then that was my magic day! Also Margaret Trueman and Grace Kelley were married this day 55 years ago. Grace is dead, I guess Margaret is still married, but after 30 years married here I am single for the past 25 years. As the world turns and we each have our own paths laid out for us to travel we can never know what tomorrow will bring. I loved my wedding day and most of the 30 years of marriage because of three wonderful daughters, but all of the fun and happiness has just continued on through the last 25 years, just without a mate. I do wish the royals a long and happy marriage and look forward to enjoying it on TV tomorrow. Weddings are fun and exciting and every girl should have, at least one, in their lives.......well hopefully just one! Nice today, but snow forecast for tomorrow. Saw "Water for Elephants" today, loved it. Lived through my bridge luncheon here yesterday and enjoyed a cute dance program last night that my third granddaughter was in. Four days till I'm off to Indiana with Pam's family for Nicci's graduation from graduate school. Then she will move to Minneapolis and go to work with General Mills, I am a proud grandmother!

DO YOU HAVE A MILLION TOMORROWS?

Do you have a million tomorrows? When I heard that question asked, it made me stop and think........how long is a million tomorrows. Well, it is more than I have left I'm afraid. If I could push it even 10 m0re years that would only give me 4, 375 more tomorrows, so I am hoping for that at least.

My suggestion is don't be fooled by thinking your tomorrows will go on forever, appreciate every single morning you wake up and can enjoy a day with loved ones. Tomorrow I am having bridge at my house. I get to entertain 7 dear friends for lunch and bridge. Picture is of some of those dear friends......Mae, Jane, Florence, Joan, Margie (who just had a heart attack) missing Bettie and Gloria and Pat. We have been playing bridge for many years. Thank you God for one more tomorrow with dear friends.....and oh yes, a clean house. Having your friends over pushes you to do the windows and the corners! It snowed again today!!!!!! Will it ever be spring? And so happy my little sister got out of the hospital. Life is good...............

HAPPY EASTER

A beautiful sunny Easter Sunday........what more could we wish for? I am off to my oldest daughter's for Easter dinner. Karrie's family, Tiff and Scott will be there. Sherrie's family is in Mexico and I can't help but be a little jealous because Mexico is my favorite place and I have so many fun memories of fun times there. Leslie is in the hospital with pneumonia and won't have a very fun day.....my prayers are with her. I made a "Peep" bouquet to take to the party, it brings back all the fun Easters when my girls were young. I made dozens of Easter dresses, as a new dress was a must. Then baskets full of goodies and the forever Easter egg hunt in the house where you always forgot where you hid all the eggs and one turned up a few weeks later when you were cleaning behind furniture. It is cold today and the poor flowers are trying so hard to open up. A few of our trees are in bloom but they said we have had rain and cold weather 16 our of 21 days in May, not the usually balmy spring weather. I have my bridge party at my house Wednesday and then the 3rd of may I am off to Indiana to see my second grandchild graduate from graduate school. I am ready for a trip! I hope everyone has a nice day.

"AMAZING GRACE"

My Birthday has come and gone and was so much fun. One of my favorite gifts was a fragrance set called "GRACE." Written on the the containers was some fun messages called Philosophy and if I write it down then I will always have it, even after I have used up all the wonderful smells and thrown away the containers. #1. "Philosophy: how you climb up the mountain is just as important as how you get down the mountain, and, so it is with life, which for many of us becomes one big gigantic test followed by one big gigantic lesson, in the end, it all comes down to one word, grace. It's how you accept winning and losing, good luck and bad luck, the darkness and the light." #2.'Philosophy: life is a classroom, we are both student and teacher. Each day is a test, and each day we receive a passing or failing grade in one particular subject......Grace. Grace is compassion, gratitude,surrender, faith, forgiveness, good manners, reverence and the list goes on. It's something money can't buy and credentials rarely produce, being the smartest, the prettiest the most talented, the richest or even the poorest can't help. Being a humble person can, and being a helpful person can guide you through your days with grace and gratitude." I like that word grace and just these wonderful items will contribute to me attaining it..................

WHAT I KNOW FOR SURE....

How do I feel about getting a year older today? I feel very loved! So many, many people have reached out to wish me happy 79th birthday. I feel so lucky to have had so many years with lots of people I love around me. Many people fight getting older and can't accept old age. I hope I am accepting it gracefully. Don't stress about not having that teenage body you use to......I am not a teenager any more and everyone knows it! Lots of grandmothers need to lose 20 pounds. If you are blessed enough to grow old, which is a wonderful way to look at adding birthdays, expect and accept the things going on in your life . Think of the people you knew that won't be so privileged, there is so much wisdom to be gained from people who are celebrating the process with vibrancy and vigor and grace. Don't deny your age. Denial leads to delusion, own who and what you are and step into the fullness of a great life. I do believe that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but, we are responsible for who we become. So today I celebrate my many years. My face book was full of Happy Birthday messages from my extended family of nieces and their children, daughters, granddaughters, even a couple of cruise lines sent me cards........I wonder why???The Christensons surprised me with two dozen red roses, I got two gift cards from a niece and her family. The twins and I birthdayed last week when Sherrie was in town so I have lots of fun things to wear and a new suitcase for my upcoming trip. Lots of phone calls and pretty cards and tonight the Panniers are taking me to dinner so how is getting old affecting me? I'm just looking forward to the next birthday already!

A birth certificate shows that we were born,

A death certificate shows that we died,

Pictures show that we have lived...................

CRAZY WEATHER

I love Bagley's cartoon on "April weather" in Salt Lake City.........so true in 5 minutes you can see it all. It seems to go on and on and every day is different. Some mornings you get up and it is cloudy and rainy, but by evening the sun is out and it has warmed up. Some mornings you get up and it is sunny and warm but by noon it clouds up and rains or snows.......so suck it up cupcake and enjoy, it's April in Utah! Busy weekend, I am baby sitting Izzy and Marley while the Cooks are are in California for spring break. Yesterday went to the Ballet with Pam and Tiffany. Bolero, with Chaconne and Sinfonietta, it was a fun afternoon. THEN the excitement of the weekend was the news my granddaughter Annie made cheer leading, she had been working very hard and we all were on pins and needles. It is so wonderful when your children and grandchildren succeed in things. Cheer leading runs in our family. I was a cheer leader as were all three of my little sisters. One of my daughters was a cheer leader and now a granddaughter, Yes! Busy week ahead, coffee with dear friend Cleon and bridge at Pat Noall's. Then my birthday on Wednesday and dinner with the kids. I need to clean house for Easter Dinner and bridge at my house on Wednesday.......soooo it's all good.

Do you realize: Life is the way you audition for God?

PARTY TIME

This is my favorite party group. Yesterday we met for lunch to celebrate Sherrie and Karrie's birthday day and mine for next week. The girls will be out of town for Spring break for mine so we worked it in with theirs. Pam and Tiff worked us in on their lunch break from work, we missed Nicci and Annie but maybe next time. What a lucky person I am to have so many fun people to go to lunch with. They really spoil me. This week my mood has been less than upbeat. Maybe it is the weather.......it is snowing again this morning. About every other day all month we have had rain and snow. Maybe it is because I have a pretty big birthday coming up next week. I keep reading all these things to brighten your day and feel more optimistic about life so I am working on some of them........research reveals that doing five nice things in a day .....from leaving a bigger tip than usual to holding the door for the shopper behind you......enhances your frame of mind for an entire week! And doing all these good deeds within 24 hours packs a bigger Punch of uplifting self-esteem than doing them out over several days. Isn't that interesting? Instead of saying "Fine" when someone asks how you are say "great". Brain scans show that when the eyes sees something pink, it triggers the brain to release the feel-good chemical serotonin, so you literally feel "in the pink"! I didn't know that.......maybe I need to go shopping for something pink, like maybe a bouquet of pink roses..........if it ever stops snowing!

WONDERFUL 43 YEARS

Happy Birthday Sherrie and Karrie.............43 years ago you made me the happiest mother in the world. Pam and I waited 11 years to have a little sister, but God surprised us with two little sisters. You have been so much fun and filled my life with so much happiness. The same, but different and so fun to watch you grow up to such wonderful women. Good wives, wonderful mothers and daughters to be proud of. I thank you for the six wonderful grandchildren you have given me.......(mostly boys, but that is o.k.) So many people have loved you through the years and still do, I'm only sorry your father wasn't more concerned. You give so much to those who are close to you. Your combined talents work well together and have helped make you the fun people you are. I thank you for not letting me become a crotchety old lady. Keeping me young and moving, fun purses, jewelry and clothes. Then we move into the cell phone, texting, kindle, computer, face book, blog and email. Yes, as I have said often, "I belong to a very exclusive club......'The Mother's of Twins Club', where God picks the members." Always stay sweet and love God. Your Mom loves you.

WHERE DID THIS DAY GO?

My days just seem to fly by, could it be my age ? Another birthday is 11 days off........and I can't believe I am another year older. Tonight was a good night......a telephone night as I talked to three dear friends and had a ton of laughs. I found out one friend's husband is really bad with Parkinson's and she can hardly leave. Another dear friend of both of ours, both airline pilot wives from my "other" life filled me in. Maybe I am luckier than I know. I have become strong, independent and hopefully in control of my life, but that was not always the case. Maya Angelou wrote a poem that made me think.....A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE......enough money within her control to move out and rent as place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to.....(No, I could never have done that in my 30 years of marriage and doubt any of my girls can.)

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE......something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour.......(Yes, I think I always had that covered.) A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE......a youth she's content to leave behind. (Yes, I had a wonderful youth, but had no problem growing up.) A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...... a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age....(Sorry, no juicy past to brag about, unless I can brag about traveling to 100 countries by the time I was 70 and have since added about 20 more.....Not too juicy!)......A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE......a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill and a black lace bra......(I have all three and know how to use them all!!!!!) A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .....One friend who always makes her laugh, and one who lets her cry....(Yep, Patty is always there for whatever my mood?)......A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE......a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family.....(I have many). A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE.....eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored. (Got all that and love to entertain.) A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE.....A feeling of control over her destiny.......(I lost that after 30 years of marriage ,but am in full control of my destiny now!) A WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.....how to fall in love without losing herself. (I think I have learned my lesson in falling in love!) EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.......how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without; ruining the friendship.......(Maybe I need a lesson in this?) EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.....when to try harder....and when to walk away......(Oh, all women know this?)....EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips and the nature of her parents.......(maybe diet and exercise could help the first two, but the last one is set in stone.)

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....how to live alone, even if she doesn't like it....(AMEN!) EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW......where to go, be it to her best friend's kitchen table or a charming Inn in the woods, when her soul needs soothing. (I'm looking for a good Inn.) EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....What she can and can't accomplish in a day, a month, and a year! (That is why I make lots of lists!)........I hope this has made you all think, it did me!

SEEING NOT JUST LOOKING

Friends are what makes your world go round......that is why you should stick to the "good friends" that are always there. One of my good friends invited me to a little two night trip to Wendover, Nevada. She had won two free-nights stay and would drive. I bought the gas and we had a very good time "Doing Nothing Much!" Stop and look around and see how wonderful the simplest things in your life can be to make you smile. A favorite story is called TWINKIES AND ROOT BEER: A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of root beer and started his journey. When he had gone about three block, he met an old man. He was sitting alone on a park bench. The little boy sat down beside him and opened his suitcase and took out his Twinkies and root beer, noticing the old man looked hungry, he offered him a Twinkies and root beer. The old man accepted it and smiled. They sat all afternoon eating and smiling without saying a word. When the little boy realized it was getting late and he was tired, he got up to leave, but turned and hugged the old man. When the happy little boy got home his mother ask "What did you do today that made you so happy?" He replied, "I had lunch with God" and added "he has the most wonderful smile." The old man went home and his son noticed the peace on his face and asked "Dad what did you do today that made you so happy?" He replied "I ate Twinkies in the park with God." However, before his son could respond, he added "You know, he's much younger than I expected." Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, and honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. I cherish my friends and hope I always take time to see, not just look, listen, not just hear and feel their love and friendship. Invited out to dinner tonight by two of my most dear friends.......long time friends.

APRIL FOOLS DAY

Yes, it's Spring Conference so why wouldn't it turn cloudy and rainy? I read at conference time the heavens open up and cry......is it because heaven is happy or is it sad? Korina and Bill came up for conference so fun to have weekend company. We got up early and drove up to Park City for brunch as their conference tickets were for the afternoon. I think tomorrow's weather is the same. Today the 2nd of April, such a busy month with my birthday, the twins and Kennedy's birthday. Easter, the kids taking off for their Easter and Spring breaks. Need to call Cleon for coffee, we meet once a year for a birthday drink! My turn for day time bridge, that means my house gets it's Spring cleaning done. I look forward to adding another birthday, hey, I'll take everyone I can get.......I only hope each day I can live a better life than the day before.

"Often people attempt to live their lives backwards, they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want so that they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then, do what you need to do, in order to have what you want." Maybe it takes many years to learn this. It's all good!